Chapter 44 "Luna Lovegood"

At King's Cross Station, Skyler and his brother Draco bid farewell to their parents.

After crossing the magical barrier on Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, they stepped onto the Hogwarts Express.

Draco, having learned various new and interesting spells during the summer vacation, excitedly said his goodbyes to Skyler before eager to show off his newfound knowledge to his fellow students.

As was his custom, Skyler found an empty compartment and leisurely began to peruse the textbooks required for the upcoming semester.

Simultaneously, aboard the train, a girl with striking silver eyes, pale blonde hair, large eyes, fair skin, and light eyebrows, adorned with radish-shaped earrings and a necklace made from a Butterbeer cork, maneuvered a suitcase much larger than her petite figure through the aisle.

Her gaze shifted from lucid to confused, imbuing her with an eccentric and erratic demeanor.

With measured breaths, she politely pushed open the compartment doors and inquired, "Are these seats taken?"

Upon discovering an occupied carriage, she offered her apologies and proceeded to search for another.

In her heart, she knew she wouldn't find anyone she knew among the carriages.

Finally, she reached a compartment situated at the rear of the train.

The door was slightly ajar. Upon peering inside, she saw an empty compartment and, somewhat elated, began to push her suitcase inside.

However, upon standing upright, she noticed an unexpected presence on the other side of the seat where her vision had been obscured by the door: a young boy seated by the window, engrossed in flipping through a third-year Potions textbook.

The girl recognized this boy, as would almost anyone at Hogwarts.

He was a figure so renowned that few students could claim not to know him: the top academic performer, the legendary hero who had slain a basilisk in the Chamber of Secrets, and who had vanquished older students to earn Merlin's Medal.

He exuded an aura of countless accolades, combined with a noble heritage and a handsome appearance, making him absolutely captivating to those in the lower grades.

He seemed utterly absorbed in his book, oblivious to the girl's entrance.

However, the newcomer was suddenly overwhelmed by a sense of embarrassment, causing her to panic and mumble, "I'm so sorry. I thought the compartment was empty. I'll leave..."

"Ahh..." What she failed to notice was that, behind her, two female students had been passing by.

About to exit, she was abruptly hushed and took a seat on the floor.

While it was initially a minor incident, the two more responsible girls happened to be the two victims.

Nevertheless, these two didn't make much of a fuss.

Yet, they stood at the door, casting scornful words and mockery. "What's the matter with you? Can't you watch where you're going?"

"That's right. Did you just think you could walk through without acknowledging anyone else?"

"Do you realize you nearly knocked me down? Are you prepared to take responsibility for any injuries?"

The girl who had fallen onto the ground promptly stood and continuously apologized, saying, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry..."

The two girls exchanged a glance, a trace of a sneer in their eyes, and without a hint of mercy, they said, "You're lucky this time. We won't press the matter..." Satisfied with their retort, they departed.

Skyler observed the scene at the compartment door with a slight frown.

It was evident to him that the two girls had intentionally jostled the luggage-laden girl as they passed through the door.

Furthermore, they wore a feigned victim's expression while doing so.

Skyler deduced the girl's identity from her distinctive attire – her name was Luna Lovegood.

Although she played a relatively minor supporting role in the original story, her eccentric behavior and unconventional thinking marked her as an easy target for bullying.

Her peers in Ravenclaw often subjected her to taunts and ridicule, even dubbing her "Lunatic Girl."

As Luna awkwardly attempted to withdraw with her luggage, Skyler was filled with an unspoken sense of empathy for the girl's predicament.

It moved him in a way he couldn't quite explain.

He broke the silence with a soft offer, "There's still room here. You can stay in this compartment."

Luna responded with a surprised "Ah." She hesitated and then gratefully said, "That... Well, thank you." With those words, Luna accepted Skyler's kindness.

The young girl settled onto the bench, a magazine spread across her lap and her wand, quite unusually, perched behind her ear.

Admitting that he wasn't typically one to meddle or be overly considerate, Skyler had acted against his usual disposition this time.

He didn't anticipate feeling such genuine compassion for this girl.

Skyler, as a traverser, often felt somewhat disconnected from this world.

He harbored a multitude of secrets that prevented him from extending an open hand in friendship, even to his family.

Regardless of the strength he exhibited, he couldn't disguise the trace of loneliness that lay deep within his heart.

Reflecting on his emotions, he found himself unintentionally employing magic to scrutinize the girl across from him.

While her magical prowess wasn't overpowering, her lineage seemed to contain a unique power concealed in her blood, evident in the magical fluctuations that Skyler sensed.

Her aura carried a quality closely linked to nature, evoking purity and serenity.

Skyler recollected that this girl was a pure-blood witch.

In the original story, she eventually married Scamander's grandson, venturing into the field of magical biology.

Despite her reticence, she demonstrated a remarkably acute intuition.

At this moment, the girl was likely unaware that her bloodline held an ancient and mysterious power.

Since their paths had serendipitously crossed, and given his study of bloodline magic, Skyler contemplated helping her unlock her latent potential.

Within his plans, the power he sought to establish at Hogwarts extended beyond the confines of Slytherin.

Given the meager Slytherin numbers and the limitations of attracting followers among the pure-blooded diehards, Skyler considered students from the other houses as potential allies.

Luna, a Ravenclaw student, appeared to be a prime candidate.

By assisting her in harnessing her bloodline power, Skyler could significantly bolster her abilities, facilitating her rise to prominence within Ravenclaw.

Skyler broke the silence and initiated the conversation, extending a friendly gesture. "Are you Miss Lovegood from Ravenclaw? I'm Skyler Malfoy. You can call me Skyler."

Luna appeared rather taken aback by Skyler's approach, her large, bewildered eyes locking onto him as if questioning her own ears.

To many, her reaction might seem impolite, but Skyler was well aware of her unique personality and paid no mind.

Instead, he offered a gentle smile and nodded toward the magazine she had been reading, starting a new thread of conversation. "What book are you reading?"

Luna regained her composure and blushed, responding, "Just call me Luna." The blush crept down her neck as she bashfully closed the magazine and presented its cover.

With a hint of enthusiasm, she explained, "This is 'The Enigma.' It delves into some lesser-known secrets of the magical world. My Father happens to be the editor of this magazine. If you'd like to read it, I can provide you with a copy for each issue."

Skyler expressed interest, prompting Luna to continue. "It's quite peculiar and intriguing. The articles often touch upon ancient runic magic. By inverting these ancient runes, you discover that they actually form a spell, 'Banish Nuisance Horseflies.' You might not be familiar with what a 'nuisance horsefly' is, but they are..."

At that moment, the compartment door swung open once more, revealing Daphne and Meredith, who found Skyler seated with Luna, dressed in peculiar attire.

Their curiosity was piqued by this unusual sight.

There was no doubt that Skyler had become one of the most prominent figures at Hogwarts.

His fame extended across all houses, even Gryffindor, which had historically been at odds with Slytherin.

No student of his year had achieved such a level of prominence in quite some time, and rumors began circulating that Skyler could potentially follow in Dumbledore's footsteps.

Moreover, Skyler held a place in the hearts of many Hogwarts students as a dream figure.

His exceptional magical prowess, prestigious lineage, striking good looks, and courteous, approachable personality made him the embodiment of the ideal.

Daphne couldn't forget how Tracy and Audrey from her class sought opportunities to get closer to him.

Slytherin prefect Gemma Farley had also invited Skyler to spend time together during the summer break, and while he maintained a humble and polite facade, it was evident that he deliberately maintained a certain distance.

Among the multitude of admirers, there was a Ravenclaw with long, straight black hair named Morag McDougal, who appeared to have developed a cordial relationship with Skyler.

Given the status quo, the idea of a romantic connection between Skyler and Luna seemed far-fetched to Daphne and Meredith.

However, to their astonishment, they witnessed the two conversing amiably in the compartment. It was almost unbelievable.

Skyler observed their expressions and whispered, "What are you thinking? Come in and have a seat; you're blocking the aisle."

The two girls, somewhat embarrassed, entered the compartment. Skyler decided to make formal introductions. "Allow me to introduce you both. This is a new friend I made today, Miss Luna Lovegood. She's from Ravenclaw, a year younger than us, but she knows many fascinating things..."

Daphne and Meredith had fully regained their composure.

First, they introduced themselves to Luna, and then they deftly joined Skyler in creating an engaging atmosphere.

They seamlessly carried the conversation from magical creatures to unfamiliar beasts, and Luna had never encountered classmates so keen on her peculiar interests.

Instantly, she opened up, engaging in lively discussions with the three of them, and their relationship became more amicable as the morning passed by.

At lunchtime, Skyler generously purchased an assortment of sweets from the trolley-pushing witch.

It was indeed a wonderful way to bond; Luna, too, was tempted by the array of treats, relinquishing her initial reservations and joining in the feasting.

Once lunch concluded, Luna resumed her reading of "Singing a Counter Tune."

Daphne steered the conversation toward the new Slytherin prefect for the year. "Have you heard the news? The prefect meeting just took place on the train. This year's male prefect in Slytherin is Cassius Wallington…"

An imperceptible glint flickered in Skyler's eyes as he responded coolly, "So, Gallup from the Lestrange family lost the election?"

Meredith picked up where he left off. "You know, when you mention it like that, it does seem rather strange. While there aren't any explicit rules, the position of prefect has traditionally been passed among pure-blood families, and the Wallington family not only has mixed blood but is also rather unremarkable. Making him a prefect might not sit well with many."

Daphne chimed in. "Indeed, that's what I think as well. Besides, even if Gallup wasn't chosen, Slytherin had other suitable candidates! Miles Blake, for instance, is not only a pure-blood but also highly skilled…"

Skyler remarked casually, "So, who's the female prefect?"

"It's Irina Selwyn from the Selwyn family. The Selwyns are a mysterious bunch. They're a pure-blood family, but very few know their primary business. Irina may seem low-key, but I've heard in private that she's rather ruthless." Daphne provided the insight.

Skyler had a premonition during the Merlin's Challenge last semester.

Gallup was unsuccessful when selecting candidates for the contest, while Cassius was chosen.

There was certainly something peculiar happening behind the scenes, and now, with the selection of the prefects, the situation appeared similarly perplexing.

Skyler had a lingering suspicion that there were hidden motives at play.

The only question remained: was it Snape or Dumbledore orchestrating these machinations?

Did this individual have benevolent intentions toward him, aiming to help him manage conflicts within Slytherin, or did they harbor malevolent designs, intending to intensify discord among the pure-blood families?